Cellulose ethers plasticized with ethers of cashew nut shell liquid



Patented July 28, 1942 cELLULosE nrnnns rms'rrorzxn nrnnns n CASHEW NUTSHELL LIQUID Roger L. Campbell, Murray Hill, N. 1., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Harvel Corporation, a corporation ofiNewJersey No Drawing.

The present invention relates to compositions of matter comprisingprepared cashew nut shell liquid and an alkyl ether of cellulose, thecashew nut shell liquid being prepared either before or afterincorporation with the alkyl cellulose or in some cases having preparingsteps performed on it both before and after the incorporation, and thepresent invention also relates to methods and steps for making and usingthe compositions of the present invention.

I have discovered that alliyl ethers of cellulose are compatible withand can be plasticised with alkyl ethers of cashew nut shell liquid orwith alkyl ethers of certain modifications of cashew nut shell liquid.Among the alkyl ethers of cellulose which are suitable for the practiceof the present invention are, for example, methyl cellulose, ethylcellulose, propyl cellulose, butyl cellulose, amyl cellulose and thehigher alkyl ethers of cellulose.

Among the modifications and derivatives of cashew nut shell liquid whichare suitable for the practice of the present invention are alkyl ethersof cashew nut shell liquid, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyland amyl ethers of cashew nut shell liquid; the above identified alkylradicle ethers of Cardanol (Cardanol is a phenol having an unsaturatedhydrocarbon side chain and is identified in U. S. Patent Number 2,098,824); the above named and identified alkyl ethers after they have beentransformed or thickened by heating in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide;and the ethers of polymerized cashew nut shell liquid or the polymerizedethers of cashew nut shell liquid; and various products of condensationof aldehydes with cashew nut shell liquid, with polymerized cashew nutshell liquid, with cardanol and with the ethers of cashew nut shellliquid, cardanol and polymerized cashew nut shell liquid.

Example 1.-As an illustrative example of the practice of the method ofthe present invention and of the products obtained thereby there isgiven the following particular process for making flexible, extrudedtubing suitable for use as electrical insulation. Three parts by weightof ethyl cellulose (containing 48% -OC2H5) and two parts of primary amylether of cashew nut shell liquid were milled together on a heated rubbermixing roll until the two were thoroughly intermingled and dissolvedtogether. The resulting composition when cold is tough and flexible, isthermoplastic at 250 F., and can be rolled into sheets and can beextruded in the form of sheets, ribbon and tubing.

Application February 11, 1938, Serial No. 190,131

3 Claims. v((Ll. 260-13) Example 2.-A condensation product 0! 55 partsby weight of a 40% water solution of formaldehyde and 166 parts ofcardanol was made by heating under reflux condenser for about one hourwith about one hundred parts of commercial ammonia, in solution in ethyl9.1-

cohol. The reaction product is left to stand until water of reaction andother water present separates into a distinct layer after which theEqual parts of the above reaction product and ethyl cellulose(48%-0C2H5) are milled together on a rubber mill to get a thoroughmixture and solution, the resulting solution or composition beingsuitable for the formation of sheets, ribbons, tubes and other forms byrolling or extruding.

'. Example 3.-0ne part by weight of milled Pliolite, three parts ofethyl cellulose (47.1% -0C2Hs) two parts primary amyl ether of cashewnut shell liquid and one part of vthe condensation reaction product ofExample 2, above, are milled on a rubber mixing rolls to obtain thoroughand homogeneous mixture. The composition or solution is thermoplasticand can be sheeted or extruded.

Example 4.-Four parts by weight 01 ethyl cellulose (47% 002315) threeparts primary amyl ether of cashew nut shell liquid and one part of thecondensation reaction product of Example 2, above, are milled on rubbermixing rolls to obtain a, thermoplastic solution which can be sheeted orextruded.

Example 5.Three parts by weight of ethyl cellulose (47% -OC2H5) threeand one-half partsoi Aroclor 1262 and one part of the condensationreaction product of Example 2, above, are milled on rubber mixing rollsto obtain a thermoplastic composition which can be sheeted or extruded.This composition is flame resisting, that is, it does not supportcombustion.

The compositions of Examples 1 to 5 are soluble in certain solvents, forexample, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol,- butyl alcohol and toluol. Thecompositions of Examples 2 to 5 can be modified by heating thecondensation reaction product of Example 2, at 0., for example, tocarrythe condensation reaction further. They are then less soluble in theabove named solvents.

The primary amyl ethers of cashew nut shell liquid or other alkyl ethersof cashew nut shell liquid and primary amyl ether of cashew nut shellliquid which has been thickened by heating in an atmosphere of C0: arecompatible in all proportions with ethyl cellulose having an ethoxy(OCzHs) content of 47 to 48%. The primary amyl ethers of cashew nutshell liquid are compatible with ethyl cellulose 01 ethoxy content of44%.

The formaldehyde condensation product described in Example 2, above,'iscompatible with ethyl cellulose of ethoxy content of 44% to 48%.

Distilled primary amyl ethers of cashew .nut shell liquid are compatiblewith ethyl cellulose 01 44% to 48%.

The compositions of Examples 1 to 5 have good dielectric strength, areflexible and retain their flexibility after being subjected to heat ashigh as 450 F.

Ellis, .Chemistry of Synthetic Resins," l935,

vol. 2, page 1145, describes Aroclor" materials which are chlorinateddiphenyls suitable for the practice of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A composition of matter whichistough and flexible at normaltemperature and workable on mixing rolls 'at high'temperaturescomprising an alkyl ether of a cashew nut shell liquid polymer, and asolvent soluble, highly substituted lower i'atty alcohol etherot-cellulose.

2. A composition of matter which is tough and flexible at normaltemperature, ,,andworkable on mixing rolls at high'tempera'tlir'escomprising an alkyl ether of a cashew nut shell liquid polymer, -asolvent soluble, highly substituted lower fatty alcohol ether ofcellulose, and a fire resistant chlorinated diphenyl.

l 3. The thermoplastic composition adapted for sheeting and extrusionthrough dies. and comprising an intermixture of from about $4, of 1 partto about 1 part of an alkyl ether of cashew nut shell liquid and about 1part of a solvent soluble, highly substituted lower fatty alcohol etherof cellulose.

ROGER L. CAMPBELL.

